Thoughts and musings from a writer, editor, photographer, activist, and musician in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I believe that faith and social action are intertwined in efforts to positively motivate change in the society around us. We need to be actively involved in our communities to try to effect this change locally and globally. I also love the local Arts scene. Warning: alternative perspectives and strong opinions ahead. Intimidated yet? Good - read on.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

On Sunday, I am going to the third baby shower in as many months. It's for the daughter of a good friend of mine, and it's also her third child. Yes, sometimes things come in threes.

Lately I have been feeling more excited and enthuasiastic about being surrounded by children, and being considered an "Auntie." This is the closest I have ever felt to any sort of maternal instinct. You can have a lot of impact on a child's life without being a parent. And you can have a legacy without having children.

Strangely though, recently I have developed a huge longing for a cat. This frightens me somewhat. I guess I don't want to fall into the stereotype of the single, childless cat woman.

Monday, February 26, 2007

We just completed our fourth Missions Fest. As always, it was our biggest outreach event of the year. We had some very interesting conversations with enthusiastic people who approached our information table and wanted to know more about the ministry.

I ran into a whole lot of people I haven't seen in ages. There was Naomi, a friend from high school who was at the Canadian Bible Society table. Rene, one of the first friends I made after becoming involved with the Messianic movement, is now with Chosen People Ministries, married, and the father of a young daughter. Brenda, from the women's Bible study I used to attend, was there with her family. My ex-fiance's brother, caught up with me and filled me in on developments in his family. Carlo, a volunteer at a newspaper where I used to work, came over to say hello. A representative from the Mustard Seed, an inner city pastoral ministry, knew me from my work with an inner city community newspaper.

We had many people more recent to the congregation help out at the table, which was just great. Enthusiasm abounded. I caught the tail end of a seminar aimed at single people, which was led by a senior woman who had never married. Someone asked her how she knew it was G-d's will for her to remain single. Her answer was simple. It just never happened. And she was satisfied with that. She expected to be married, but it never happened. Circumstances, and peace with that situation, seem to be key.